how will washington break the fiscal cliff stalemate? if they do, joining us from capitol hill, maxine waters, democrat from california. soon to be the ranking member of the house committee on fanl services. she will be succeeding representative barney frank as ranking member there as he retires. ms. waters, good to have you with us. >> thank you. delighted. >> i with a just asking aemon if he thought that tenor of the negotiations darkened over the last 48 hours with regard to the fiscal cliff. do you agree with that? >> i don't know. but i do know we haven't made any progress. from time to time, we've heard encouraging words but then the next day when it is time to report out what happened, nothing has happened. it does not appear that there have been any changeets, any progress has been made. so, as is being said, a moment ago. members of congress are prepared to be here during christmas holidays if we have to. >> when members go home for the weekend, back to their district, many traveling at taxpayer expense during this kind of envir